Hi guys,

I wanted to let you know that my Android App is ready to be installed.

The app contains useful IELTS quizzes to test your understanding of the test. If you score under 70% in the quizzes, you should really spend more time learning about the test. One of the reasons that people struggle with IELTS is that they don’t fully understand it. So, do the quizzes today and test how ready you are.

The app also contains an easy gateway for you to access my website and my Youtube channel.

The app is called IELTS Liz.

Click here: IELTS Liz App

Iphone users: If this app is popular with Android users, I will consider making another app for you later on. Lets see how things go with this app first.

All the best

Liz

Below are the answers for the TFNG reading practice about kiwi birds.

If you have not completed this reading lesson yet, please do so before you look at the answers. Click here: TFNG Kiwi Reading Practice

Questions

1. The number of kiwi birds has dwindled.
2. Many people are curious to learn about the kiwi.
3. Kiwis are blind in the daytime.
4. Without a terrestrial threat, the kiwi had no need of flight in the past.
5. A kiwi has both hair and a nose.
6. Kiwis behave like mammals.
7. Kiwis eat a vegetable diet.

Answers

1. TRUE
   1. The answer is found in this sentence: The kiwi is an endangered species that was once counted in the millions.
      endangered = small number left in existence and at risk of dying out
      once counted in the millions = there used to be millions of kiwis
      question keywords = number / dwindled
      predict numbers = counted / millions
      the word dwindled did not have a direct paraphrase but was indicated by the passage content.
2. NOT GIVEN
   1. The passage does not give information about people being curious to learn. We do not know if people want to know or not.
      The passage does use the word “curious” but it applies to something completely different – the nature of the kiwi.
3. NOT GIVEN
   1. The passage states the kiwi is nocturnal which means it is active at night. But it does not state if the kiwi is blind.
4. TRUE
   1. The sentence in the passage is: … birds are flightless which is mainly a result of the lack of ground predators that existed in New Zealand prior to human arrival.
      without terrestrial threat = lack of ground predators
      no need of flight in the past = flightless / prior to human arrival
      question keywords = flight / past
      the word “past” is not paraphrased – instead you look for information given using past tenses.
5. FALSE
   1. The sentence in the passage is: their feathers look like hair and they have nostrils at the end of their beaks.
      The passage shows that kiwis have feathers (not hair) and they have nostrils on their beak (not a nose).
      This question was really testing your attention to detail. The feathers looked like hair – it does not mean it is hair – it is only a description. Also, the nostrils are on a beak, not on a nose.
6. NOT GIVEN
   1. The passage does use the word “mammals” but this is about kiwis being honorary mammals due to their appearance.
      The passage does not present any information about whether their behaviour is similar to mammals or not.
7. FALSE
   1. The passage states: They are omnivores
      The word omnivore means “eating both plant and animal”
      Don’t confuse this word with carnivore (an animal that eats meat) or herbivore (an animal that eats only vegetables).
      Kiwis actually eat both. They do not eat only vegetables which is what is implied by the question statement.
      If the question had been “Kiwis can eat vegetables”, the answer would be TRUE. Because it is possible for them to eat vegetables.
      But the question indicates that their “diet” is a vegetable one when in fact it is a mixed diet.
      NG is not possible as an answer. NG means we do not know if kiwis eat vegetables or meat. So, this answer is not possible.

I hope you found this lesson useful and I hope the explanations help 🙂

See this page for more reading lessons: IELTS Reading Lessons & Tips

All the best

Liz

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In some IELTS books, the listening answers are written using brackets. The common question I am asked is:

Question : Can I use brackets for my answers in IELTS listening?

Answer: No, you can’t use brackets in your IELTS listening test. Read the information below to understand why.

What are brackets?

Here is an example of some answers using brackets:

1. charity (work)
2. detail(s)
3. (a) reception (room)

Brackets are used to provide optional answers ( more than one answer).

Why are brackets used in IELTS test books?

The brackets are used in the answer keys of books to show different possible answers for one question. It is a quick easy way to show multiple answers. For example:

• charity (work)
  • charity or charity work (both answers are correct)
• detail(s) 
  • detail or details (both answers are correct)
• (a) reception (room) 
  • reception or a reception or reception room or a reception room (all 4 answers are correct)

Even though the answer key in books show different possible answers, you cannot do that in your test.

You must choose ONE ANSWER ONLY. You can’t give two possible options for your answer. If you think the answer is “detail”, then you must write it like that. You must decide if the answer is plural or singular. If the answer is plural, your answer will be marked wrong. So, take your time deciding if you need to give a plural answer or not. Or if you need to use an article (a/the) or not. 

Can you use brackets in your test?

No, not for IELTS listening or IELTS reading. However, if you are taking Academic writing, you can use brackets in your writing task 1 to present data. See the writing section of this website for examples of this.

Want to learn more about IELTS Listening?

If you want to know more about counting words, writing answers and improving your score for IELTS listening, click here: IELTS Listening Free Tips & Lessons

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